Governor for engines



(No Model.) 4 Sheet.s-Sheet 1.

D. -OB. LADD GOVERNOR FOR ENGINES.

No. 363,651. Patented May 24, 1887.

"I II (No Model.) D. O B LADD 4 shegts sh eet 2.

GOVERNOR FOR ENGINES. No. 363,651. Patented May 24, 1887.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

1). OB; LADD GOVERNOR FOR ENGINES. No. 363,651 Patented May 24, 1887.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DENNIS OB. LADD, OF CHICAGO, lLLlNOIS.

GOVERNOR FOR. ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 363,651, dated May 24, 1887.

Application filed August 6, 1880. Serial No. EHOJEO. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

3e it known that I, DENNIS OB. LADD, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Val ve-Governors for Steam-Engines, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a rear perspective view of my improved governor. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view thereof, taken upon the line at 00, Fig. 6. Fig. 3 is a front view illustrating the relative positions of the respective parts when the eccentric is at the extreme point of eccentricity. Fig. 4 is a like view showing the eccentric at the minimum of eccentricity.- Fig. 5 is a back view showing the relative positions of said various parts when the eccentric is at its maximum point of eccentricity. Fig. 6 is a like view showing the same at its minimum point of eccentricity. Fig. 7 is a front view of said governor, showing a modification of the manner of connecting the eccentric with the shaft; and Fig. 8 is a still further modification, in which the centrifugal weights are dispensed with.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in the different figures.

The object of my invention is to provide an automatic governor and cut-off for steamengines which may be so constructed as to regulate the throw of the valve in proportion to the work to be accomplished, the primary object being to utilize the inertia of the balance-w11eel itself (preferably in connection with centrifugally-acting weights) to assist in controlling the valve-eccentric, and thereby render said governor extremely sensitive, and so uniform and smooth in its action that what is known as pounding, so common and objectionable in poorly-governed engines, and so injurious to machinery, may be wholly dispensed with. I accomplish said object substantially in the manner hereinafter more particularly described, and definitely pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, A represents the engineshaft, upon which is loosely mounted the balance-wheel 13. Upon opposite sides of said balance-wheel, and keyed rigidly to said shaft,

I place collars (J D, which serve to prevent a longitudinal movement of the balanee wheel rigidly thereto, so that the ends of said arms c and the plates 0" are ppon opposite sides of the web I) of the balance-wheel, which they loosely straddle, said web forming a guide therefor and permitting an eccentric movement of the eccentric E, while it receives a lateral support.

The sleeveO is provided with a lug, a, which projects radially therefrom, from which a pin, e, is preferably projected into the eccentric E at a point diametrically opposite to the pin 1), so that the center of the shaft A is normally in alignmentwith the pins b and c. It is obvious therefore that whenever the balance-wheel fails to revolve synchronously,or in unison with the shaft, the eccentricity of the eccentric is proportionately varied,which in turn governs the 'throw of the valve. In order to retain this normal relation of the parts, I prefer to pro vide the following-described mechanism:

Pivoted to the balance-wheel, preferably at the points ff, are weight-s F F, to the opposite or free ends of which are loosely attached, by means of pins 9 9, links G G, loosely con.- nected by means of pins d (Z to radially-projecting lugs d (1, extending in opposite direcvtions from the collar D. The weights F Fare capable of a centrifugal movement, but are retained in their normal position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, by means ofrodsff and springs f f connected with said weights and balancewheel, substantially in the manner shown and as is usual in governors of this class. As the motion of the shaft becomes accelerated the centrifugal tendency of the weights overcomes the resistance of the springs and they move outwardly. At the same time the inertia of the balance-wheel prevents it from retaining the 1 speed of the shaft, and it falls back, thus increasing the sensitiveness, while abrupt movements in either extreme,which is the cause of pounding, so called, are wholly prevented.

Fig. 8 shows a modification of said construction, in which a rack, e, engaging with teeth upon the eccentric O, is shown in lieu of the pin c. It is obvious that the inertia of the balance-wheel alone would accomplish this re sult,which may be illustrated as follows:

Assuming that there may be a sudden or partial cessation of the work to be accomplished by the engine-as, for example, the

[O breaking of a driving belt or shaft-the crank would, in this event, plunge forward at a high rate ofspeed; but the balance-wheel, being loose upon the shaft, would retain its normal degree of speed, which would result in sudr5 denly changing the positionof the eccentric and cutting off steam entirely.

Fig. 8 illustrates a governor constructed in this way, in which the part 0 is elongated to form an arm, through a hole in the outer end of which the rodf is projected, and connected by a knucklejoint atf to a lug upon the rim of the balance-wheel, the spring f bearing upon the opposite side of said arm, whereby the eccentric is normally maintainedvat its maximum eccentricity to the shaft A. The eccentric-rod H is shown as attached to a wrist-pin, h, upon the eccentric E, which is equivalent to the usual attachment.

It is manifest that the construction shown in said last-named figure is the same in prino ciple as that shown in the others, the Weights F and links G in the latter serving to connect the rods f with the balance-wheel in lieu of the direct connection last described.

By means of the lugs b b and flanges b I), 5 Figs. 1, 5, and 6, the position of the weights and springs may be reversed, so that the engine may be caused to run backward, if desired.

Having thus describedrmy invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

The combination, with a balance wheel looselymounted upon the shaft, of the weights 7 F, attached as shown, and held normally, as specified, by the springs f and rodsf, links G, loosely connected with a rigid collar, D, and eccentric E and collar 0, connected and arranged substantially as specified, said eccentric being provided with arms 0 c 0, loosely attached to said wheel, whereby a lateral movement of the eccentric may be prevented, substantiall y as described.

DENNIS O B. LADD.

-Witnesses:

D. H. FLETCHER, 'J. B. HALPENNY. 

